Free Educational Games Online Introduction: I am very interested in locating websites that offer age appropriate educational games. My staff plans activities and lessons for infants to teenagers, and we have only utilized the computer lab once this semester. I hope to locate some great online resources that provide fun and educational games that my staff and I may incorporate in programs specifically for children ages 2 to 11. I plan to use this pathfinder as a resource for the staff to help them plan activities. I also hope to use this as a resource to help teachers and myself as a future library media specialist incorporate games into the curriculum when appropriate.
Search Terms: educational games AND toddlers; educational games for toddlers; computer games for toddlers; computer games AND preschool; computer OR educational games AND kindergarten; computer OR educational OR video games AND elementary; computer games for kids; free computer games for kids online · At this point in my search, I located several sources but was not satisfied with the quality of every website. For example, several of the websites displayed distracting advertisements.
Scholastic; children’s magazines · I then began to brainstorm a list of organizations that are considered reputable sources of information for children. I started to search for individual children’s magazines and found some good resources there.
Search Tools:
Google
Yahoo
AskEric (For this search, I did not find this helpful at all. )
This Fisher-Price Webpage features free online games. The games and activities are arranged according to the following age groups: infant, toddler, and preschool. *
Various games featuring Sesame Street characters are available on this webpage. While activities and games are not specified by age or grade level, viewers may browse by subject, theme, or Sesame Street character. *
The Funschool Webpage showcases a wide variety of fun and educational games. Games and activities may be located by the following age ranges: preschool, kindergarten-2nd grade, 3rd-4th grade, 5th-6th grade. One may also view games and activities by season or holiday. *
This website sponsored by PBS features many interactive games. Children may choose to play educational games related to their favorite characters such as Arthur, Clifford, or Curious George. *
The National Geographic Kids Website features a Games page where children may select games and activities from a number of categories including top games, interactive adventures, puzzles, and geography games. *
The Scholastic Family Playground offers various family friendly games. Children may choose to play educational games involving favorite children’s book characters such as the Magic School Bus characters and Clifford the Big Red Dog. *
The Funbrain Website offers a wide variety of games. Viewers may select games based on grade level from Kindergarten to 8th grade. Viewers may also choose to select reading or math games.
Smart Tutor features a game zone designed to strengthen reading and math skills. These educational games and activities are geared towards grades Kindergarten through 5th grade.
The Arcade Webpage on the Primary Games Website features various games for children. By selecting the curriculum guide at the bottom of the page, the viewer may choose between four subjects: mathematics, language arts, science, and social studies. Within the subject, games are then listed in alphabetical order with the grade level of the game. Games target prekindergarten through fourth grade.
Introduction:
I am very interested in locating websites that offer age appropriate educational games. My staff plans activities and lessons for infants to teenagers, and we have only utilized the computer lab once this semester. I hope to locate some great online resources that provide fun and educational games that my staff and I may incorporate in programs specifically for children ages 2 to 11. I plan to use this pathfinder as a resource for the staff to help them plan activities. I also hope to use this as a resource to help teachers and myself as a future library media specialist incorporate games into the curriculum when appropriate.
Search Terms:
educational games AND toddlers; educational games for toddlers; computer games for toddlers; computer games AND preschool; computer OR educational games AND kindergarten; computer OR educational OR video games AND elementary; computer games for kids; free computer games for kids online
· At this point in my search, I located several sources but was not satisfied with the quality of every website. For example, several of the websites displayed distracting advertisements.
Scholastic; children’s magazines
· I then began to brainstorm a list of organizations that are considered reputable sources of information for children. I started to search for individual children’s magazines and found some good resources there.
Search Tools:
Resources:
http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=10&e=gamesLanding&mcat=game_infant,game_toddler,game_preschool&site=us
This Fisher-Price Webpage features free online games. The games and activities are arranged according to the following age groups: infant, toddler, and preschool. *
http://www.sesamestreet.org/games
Various games featuring Sesame Street characters are available on this webpage. While activities and games are not specified by age or grade level, viewers may browse by subject, theme, or Sesame Street character. *
http://funschool.kaboose.com/
The Funschool Webpage showcases a wide variety of fun and educational games. Games and activities may be located by the following age ranges: preschool, kindergarten-2nd grade, 3rd-4th grade, 5th-6th grade. One may also view games and activities by season or holiday. *
http://pbskids.org/games/
This website sponsored by PBS features many interactive games. Children may choose to play educational games related to their favorite characters such as Arthur, Clifford, or Curious George. *
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/Games/
The National Geographic Kids Website features a Games page where children may select games and activities from a number of categories including top games, interactive adventures, puzzles, and geography games. *
http://www.scholastic.com/parents/play/games/
The Scholastic Family Playground offers various family friendly games. Children may choose to play educational games involving favorite children’s book characters such as the Magic School Bus characters and Clifford the Big Red Dog. *
http://www.funbrain.com/
The Funbrain Website offers a wide variety of games. Viewers may select games based on grade level from Kindergarten to 8th grade. Viewers may also choose to select reading or math games.
http://atv.disney.go.com/playhouse/games/index.html
Playhouse Disney provides various fun and educational games featuring favorite Disney characters.
http://www.smarttutor.com/home/freebies.asp
Smart Tutor features a game zone designed to strengthen reading and math skills. These educational games and activities are geared towards grades Kindergarten through 5th grade.
http://www.primarygames.com/arcade/arcade.htm
The Arcade Webpage on the Primary Games Website features various games for children. By selecting the curriculum guide at the bottom of the page, the viewer may choose between four subjects: mathematics, language arts, science, and social studies. Within the subject, games are then listed in alphabetical order with the grade level of the game. Games target prekindergarten through fourth grade.
http://www.schooltimegames.com/
The School Time Games Website provides fun learning activities for students ages 9 and older. The games are categorized according to subject area. *
http://boyslife.org/section/games/online-games/
This page displays all the online games available at the Boys’ Life Website.
http://www.sikids.com/games
This is the Sports Illustrated for Kids Games Webpage. Here, children may play All Star Dodgeball, Homerun Derby, and Bowling among many other games.
* Those starred annotations are those web pages that I definitely plan to incorporate in programs.